Aeolian stratification and facies association in desert sediments, Arran basin (Permian), Scotland

Abstract

ABSTRACT Permian aeolian sediments on the island of Arran are divisible into dune (including draa) and interdune deposits. Both types display a distinctive and unusually wide variation in grain size. The dominant features of the dune deposits are grainfall lamination, sandflow lamination, and inverse graded lamination associated with ripple‐form lamination and normal graded lamination. The flat‐lying aeolian interdune deposits are characterised by granule and sand ripples, horizontal lamination in coarse sand and granules, plane bed lamination and inverse graded lamination. Associated structures include ripple‐form lamination and deflation lags. Three types of trace fossil associated with completely bioturbated horizons occur in some low‐angle dune and interdune deposits.The aeolian facies interfinger with alluvial fan deposits giving rise to three recognizable facies belts. Marginal aeolian deposits are associated with fluvial conglomerates and are dominated by interdune deposits and occasionally very thin barchan deposits (set height 3‐37 cm). Intermediate aeolian deposits are characterized by interbedded crescentic dune, small draa (dune set height 5 cm‐4.5 m) and interdune deposits, and rare fluvial and lake sediments. Basinal aeolian deposits are dominated by draa deposits (dune set height 0.2‐28 m) associated with rare interdune sediments. Transverse dunes and draas were moved by north‐eastern palaeowinds towards the foot of the alluvial fans. The aeolian sediments were deposited in a fault‐bounded desert basin.